Tamsin O'Brien, Author at The Stray Ferret

Business Breakfast: Crime Commissioner and senior police officers to face Harrogate business leaders

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

Tonight the North Yorkshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, the new County Commander for North Yorkshire and Harrogate’s Chief Inspector will all take questions from members of the town’s Chamber of Commerce.

Zoe Metcalfe, Superintendent Teresa Lam and Chief Inspector Alex Langley have been invited to talk to business leaders against a backdrop of concerns about town centre crime and anti-social behaviour and a proposed reduction in night time fire cover

The meeting, which is open to first-time visitors, will also hear from former MI5 ‘spook’ Martin Smith MBE, who will focus on the implications of cyber security and hybrid working.

The event is at Ashville College’s Soothill Hall. Doors open at 5.30pm for open networking with the meeting proper commencing at 6.15pm.

Employees at Johnsons of Whixley have recently become mental health first-aiders ahead of today’s World Mental Health Day.

Dave Barrett and Eleanor Richardson recently completed a two-day mental health course and became mental health first aiders.

Johnsons said it considers mental health and employee well-being in the workplace a priority. The first aiders will be the go-to contacts for anyone who is going through some form of crisis or mental health issue at work.

Retail unit manager, Dave Barrett said:

“ I think it’s more important than ever to make sure that everyone’s mental health is taken as seriously as their physical health. It became apparent more than ever during lockdown the fragility of everyone’s mental health and the impact this can play on our everyday lives.

I wanted to educate myself, so I can understand not only how to care for myself but also for others around me, both at work and at home.

The fact that 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health issue in any given year shows that people’s need to understand and offer help is so important.”

Office and marketing manager, Eleanor Richardson added:

“I hope people will feel comfortable coming forward and talking should they want to; Dave and I now have the tools, training and knowledge to actively listen to their situations and to help them.”

Dave Barrett and Eleanor Richardson of Johnsons with their certificates as mental health first aiders

Harrogate school pupil’s flower bed design for Queen’s Jubilee wins trophy

A pupil of Ashville College in Harrogate has won the Harrogate in Bloom award for his flowerbed design to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Children from schools across the town took part in the competition to design the flowerbed in Valley Gardens.

Jack Baier’s winning entry of more than 3,300 plants won the top award.

At the ceremony, year 7 Jack was presented with the Hammond Mann Trophy by former Yorkshire Agricultural Society chief executive Nigel Pulling.

The evening was attended by more than 60 guests, including the mayor of Harrogate, Cllr Victoria Oldham, and was the culmination of Harrogate BID’s Floral Summer of Celebration.

Jack’s colourful, winning design

Other winners on the night included Helen James Flowers, Horticap, the White Hart Hotel, and Vivido.

To create the flowerbed, Harrogate Borough Council’s park and gardens team planted 800 Super Olympia Pink Begonias, 1,100 Super Olympia Red Begonias, 650 Non-Stop Yellow Begonias and 800 Mambo Mid Blue Petunias.

Pam Grant, Harrogate in Bloom President, said:

“We were delighted with the response to this particular competition category, and congratulate Jack on his winning design.

“Once translated from paper to flowerbed, it looked absolutely stunning, and was a fitting floral tribute to honour our dearly departed Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.”

Harrogate blogger wins award decorating her home

When Ella Davis began posting pictures on Instagram of her work to jazz up a new build house in Killinghall last year, she had no idea where it would all lead.

Fast forward 18 months and @ellashausofcolour has twenty thousand followers and Ella has won a Yorkshire blogging award.

I just wanted to take pics of my journey and it grew from there. The idea was to document my journey. M job role at the time was in social media and I wanted combine that work with my journey with house.

“I opened up an Instagram account and started posted pictures — it has followed how my taste has developed and how the house grew with it.”

Ella describes her interior design style as “eclectic maximalism” — that means everything is bold, bright and colourful and there’s lots of it.

New builds are famous for being boxy and bland — Ella was simply “not down for it”.

“It was bland. I thought I would be more into dark and moody interiors and I soon realised I wasn’t — my sofa is bright orange. I have 3 gallery walls in my house.

“I have a big thing about buying decorative accessories from local businesses so everything is unique.”

One of Ella’s Instagram posts

Alongside her colourful design journey was another journey of discovery — that of becoming a serious blogger. She said it’s been a surprise that her following has grown so quickly:

“I literally just thought I was documenting it for myself.

“Last November I had one thousand followers and now, in less than a year, I have gained another nineteen thousand. There are now many different businesses (30 of them) that want to work with me. If you hit the criteria (that means a certain engagement rate and your posts fit their style) the interior design businesses find you and want to work with you.”

Ella doesn’t charge for her collaborations –she sees it as a hobby, not a job, and it can be stressful.

“There have been times when being an interior influencer is intense — you have to be constantly updating and it can be quite pressurising. I have worked with two different paint projects and next week I am working with another paint company.

“I love it but if you are sent 10 litres of paint there’s a lot involved!”

Last week Ella was rewarded for her hard work when she won the Most Creative Feed category in the People’s Choice Awards which celebrates bloggers, influencers and YouTubers in Yorkshire . How did she feel about the recognition?

“It was very surreal — just to be nominated. It was the Most Creative Feed category and people nominate you for your photo skills and how creative your home is and my name popped up which was bizarre. I sat there at the award ceremony last Friday and it was the last category to be called and suddenly my name was called!

“I do it because I love it, I love my house — it is something that reflects me and my personality. So when other people like and I win an award it’s surreal. I don’t do it for clout – I do it because I like it”.

Model boating must continue, says Friends of Valley Gardens

Model boating enhances Valley Gardens and should stay, says the charity that works to protect the park.

The comments from Friends of Valley Gardens (FOVG) come after a local model boating club told the Stray Ferret that plans for a fountain in the boating pool would end their hobby.

Claro Marine model boating club said water from the fountain would damage the expensive boats and members would have to go elsewhere if the fountain was installed.

The council had said that Friends of Valley Gardens supported the fountain, which is designed to improve water quality.

So the charity has found itself unwittingly in the middle of a watery controversy. In the past 24 hours, a large number of people have posted comments on its social media pages wanting the model boats to stay.

One of its four trustees, Andrew Jordan, told the Stray Ferret no one wants the model boaters to leave:

“Boating really enhances the Valley Gardens. The model boats are stunning – you can see the time and effort that goes into them. Going by the comments on our Facebook site today, there are a lot people who want it to stay.

“The whole purpose of the boating pond is model boating – I know Harrogate Borough Council wants to reduce costs but before the scheme goes ahead they’ll have to get the agreement from the boaters.”

He said when the council sent the charity a letter a month ago outlining a proposal for a fountain at one end of the pool, they assumed the model boaters would also be contacted and thought it was an early consultation – rather than a done deal.

They gave it approval but with lots of qualifications:

“We looked at it and we didn’t think the original plan would work. There wasn’t enough depth of water for the scheme they were proposing. We thought it was just an idea.

“From a maintenance and purification of water point of view, the fountain is a good idea but it has to be the right fountain for the site and for the other users of the boating lake.”

The charity is now urging the council to talk to Claro Marine model boating club and find a solution that works for all involved.

Harrogate student flies to Greece to compete in Pentathlon GB squad

An Ashville College pupil has flown to the birthplace of the Olympic Games to compete in the 2022 Biathle, Triathle and Laser Run European Championships.

As a member of the Pentathlon GB squad, Lydia Eastwood will be taking part this weekend in the girls under-13 individual laser run and the under-13 mixed laser run relay.

Laser Run is a two-discipline event where athletes run and shoot, and complete a number of laps depending on their age. Each lap includes running and shooting.

Being held in Marathon – famously known as the site where the ancient Greek army was victorious against the invading Persian forces in 490 BCE – it comes less than a fortnight after taking part in the world championships in Lisbon, Portugal, where she helped secure gold for the GB under-13 girls team.

Last month Lydia finished first in the girls under-13 age group at the Biathle of the Roses competition at Allerthorpe lake in York, which is part of the Pentathlon GB series.

And back in July, Lydia and her grandfather Tony competed in the British Biathle Championships at Salford Quays.

Lydia finished sixth and Tony claimed silver in the Masters class.

Jane Ellis, Ashville’s head of lower school, said:

“Lydia has her sights firmly set on competing in a future Olympic Games, and there is nothing that could stop her achieving this ambition.

“We are incredibly proud of Lydia. She is a truly remarkable young athlete and we are wishing her, and her Pentathlon GB squad teammates, the best of luck in this week’s competition.”

Harrogate College event offers landlords advice on making older buildings greener

Landlords in the Harrogate district are to be offered advice on retrofitting buildings to make them more environmentally sustainable.

Harrogate College is holding an information evening in partnership with Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition, entitled Retrofit for Landlords.

It will take place from 6-7.30pm on Wednesday, November 2.

The event will aim to explain how ‘eco-refurbishment’ of buildings can improve efficiency, cut energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.

Harrogate College principal, Danny Wild, said:

“We look forward to welcoming many landlords to this event, where they can hear about the benefits of retrofitting.

“Working closely with local employers, to ensure our courses and training delivers the maximum possible benefit to them, is one of our key aims.

“We are also striving to become a net zero carbon college by 2030, as set out in our sustainability p ledge, and supporting green skills like retrofitting aligns perfectly with our sustainability goals.

“So we are delighted to be teaming up with the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition to stage this event, which sets out how practical steps can be taken to help both our economy and the environment.”

Speakers include Sarah Stark, from Harrogate Borough Council, who will give details about a new council grant for landlords and who will answer questions about EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) regulations.

Representatives from York and North Yorkshire LEP will give presentations on the net-zero business toolkit and energy and retrofit options, respectively.

John Kerr from Zero Carbon Harrogate, will be discussing the work it is doing – including through teaming up with Harrogate College – to provide free retrofit training, and how landlords can access it.

Places at the event can be booked here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/harrogate-college-retrofit-event-tickets-425667923217.

Fountain will end model boating in Valley Gardens, says club

A Harrogate model boating club has said plans to erect a fountain in the boating pool at Valley Gardens will stop them being able to pursue their hobby.

Claro Marine model boating club meets twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays to operate motor boats on the pool behind the cafe.

Harrogate Borough Council plans to put a fountain in the pool to help improve water quality.

David Finnegan, secretary of Claro Marine, told the Stray Ferret it would make sailing the boats impossible:

“Model boats do malfunction – if we are distracted and steer them underneath the fountain by mistake, the boats’ electrics will be damaged and, if they fill up with water, it’ll sink them.

“A home made model boat can cost up to £1,000 — to get a well made British scale model steam plant for the boat can cost £800.”

Until recently council staff regularly drained and cleaned the pond of leaves and litter and then refilled it.

Last month, though, the pool was drained but not refilled due to the drought and the fountain is due to be installed next year.

Mr Finnegan said the council told him the decision had already been made:

“I am very disappointed at Harrogate Borough Council and certainly upset. We have members who are elderly and can’t drive so we need a central location.

“It’s a cost-cutting exercise and they’ve made no real effort to get in touch with us

“I have one friend who lives on his own and he loves the hobby. He is a non driver and, for him, this is like the end of the world.

“For us boaters it is such a relaxing and pleasant thing to do”

Mr Finnegan, 68, says there’s a long tradition of boating on the small pond – as a child he paddled in the water amongst the vessels. The boaters often have spectators who enjoy watching them – particularly children.

A video of the club’s boats being sailed on the pool.

The Stray Ferret put the club’s concerns to the council. A spokesperson said:

“Currently, the boating pond in Valley Gardens is empty due to maintenance and the continued hosepipe ban in place across Yorkshire.

“Next year, we will be installing a new fountain to help aerate the water and improve its cleanliness (once the hosepipe ban has been lifted).

“It will also provide another distinctive area for people to enjoy and complement the award winning floral displays, Himalayan and Japanese gardens, Grade II listed Sun Pavilion and Colonnades, and games and attractions currently on offer.

“The fountain – supported by Friends of Valley Gardens – is controllable so once installed, if it is problematic for the model boating club, we would be happy to discuss it with them to ensure it can be enjoyed by all visitors of Valley Gardens.”

The Boating Lake, Valley Gardens, Harrogate c.1949

Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm makes key appointments

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

A Harrogate law firm has strengthened its property team with two new appointments.

Kim Stockburn will be joining Milners’ conveyancing team and Tiffancy Jackson its commercial property department.

Both join Milners from McCormicks solicitors.

Kim has helped people buy or sell homes since 1987 – not just throughout the Harrogate district, but also across England and Wales.

Tiffany (pictured left) has a track record in executing transactions spanning all areas of commercial and agricultural property including sales and purchases; lease renewals and surrenders; and freehold and leasehold agreements.

Commercial property partner and head of its Harrogate office, Mathew Haynes, said:

“This is our fifth anniversary year in Harrogate and we’re thrilled to mark it by adding two people of Kim and Tiffany’s calibre to our pool of legal talent.

“Their blend of legal expertise, experience and local knowledge will add an extra dimension to our range of services.”

Milners, which was founded 125 years ago, also has sister offices in Leeds and Pontefract.

Victorian primary school in Harrogate undergoes major revamp

St Peter’s Church of England Primary School in the centre of Harrogate has completed one of the most substantial refurbishments in its history.

The school, which has 267 pupils, has spent £280,000 removing external fire escapes, creating additional classrooms and a new outside play area which includes parkour equipment.

Built in 1883, St Peter’s was Harrogate’s first purpose-built hospital. The hospital was closed in 1932 and then bought a few years later and turned into a school.

Today it is part of the multi-academy Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust which includes St Aidan’s Church of England High School and a number of other Church of England and community schools in the district.

The refurbishment work meant multiple projects at the same time — all crammed into the summer holidays to avoid disrupting the children’s education during term time.

Headteacher Mr Paul Griffiths said:

“We are delighted to have completed this ambitious schedule over the summer holiday to enhance our facilities for the benefit of children, families and our dedicated and talented staff team.

“With fantastic support from Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust we been able to achieve such a huge amount in a short space of time.

“We love the deep history and period features of our Victorian building with its lovely high ceilings and great picture windows and are delighted to be modernising this historic building for the benefit of children and families.”

The school’s business manager Amanda Foster told the Stray Ferret that there was still more to be done at St Peter’s but for this round of work they’d thought hard about their priorities:

“We had to balance what needed to be done in terms of structural work versus what would directly benefit the children – such as the improved play area.

“With a building this old there are still major restoration needs so we are applying for more grants to get that work done.

“The work we’ve achieved this summer will make a massive difference to our pupils”

Part of the new playground area at St Peter’s

Business Breakfast: Harrogate firm launches management programme

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

Harrogate-based dementia care provider Vida Healthcare has launched a leadership programme to help advance the careers of its staff.

Vida has a team of 470 employees across three care homes. The new aspiring leaders course is designed for staff who are looking to advance their careers in the company and move into leadership or management roles, or those in management who wish to refresh their skills and knowledge.

Programme leader Helen Daly, Vida’s learning development manager, said:

“My aim as the coordinator of our education initiatives and programmes at Vida Healthcare is to ensure a clear focus on clinical leadership and a robust evidence base to deliver positive outcomes.

“We launched the ALP to give every voice at Vida the chance to be heard, and to invest in our colleagues with crucial career development opportunities at a time when many sectors are struggling to support their people.”

A total of 24 members of staff have already completed the programme.

Ms Daly added:

“Becoming a manager has always been considered the natural next step for any individual who is progressing in their career. However not all managers are born with the ability to be great leaders. Some of the best only excel once they’re taught the skills they need to oversee a complex and dynamic workforce.

“We provide opportunities to learn new management skills and learn how to support other team members in their own career development.

“We launched the ALP programme to support our employees in management roles and hone their skills, particularly those who are new to a more senior role and may feel the pressure to perform well but lack the training they need.”

Verity Frearson wins double gold

Matthew Stamford and James Verity who collected the awards in London.

Harrogate estate agent, Verity Frearson, has won double gold at this year’s Best Estate Agents Guide Awards, which recognises achievements in the UK estate agency sector.

Verity Frearson, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, was one of only 2% of agents in the UK to be recognised.

The gold awards were given for the company’s success in both sales and lettings.

Director Matthew Stamford said:

“We are delighted to have been recognised as one of the top 2% of agents in the country, for our work on both sales and lettings of properties in and around the Harrogate district.

“Our company’s link to Harrogate stretches back 100 years – we have always had a solid market position, and it’s awards like this that remind us, what amazing work our team does.”

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Verity Frearson wins double gold